Tre Lorenzo Henry

Tre Lorenzo Henry, known to his friends and loved ones as “Trixx,” is remembered for the energy and life he brought to those around him. The 19-year-old African-American man from Chicago’s South Side was described by those who mourned him as being full of life, a young man whose presence was deeply felt. Though details of his schooling or work are not widely known, the messages and digital candles left on online memorial pages paint a picture of a person who was loved and whose sudden absence left a significant void in his community. His death was a painful loss for a family and a circle of friends who continue to keep his memory alive.

The morning of Thursday, November 1, 2012, was the last of Tre Henry’s life. At approximately 9:40 a.m., he was sitting in a vehicle parked in an alley in the 5700 block of South Prairie Avenue in Chicago's Washington Park neighborhood. In a sudden burst of violence, shots rang out. A Wentworth District police officer who was nearby heard the gunfire and went to investigate, discovering Tre inside the vehicle, critically wounded. Paramedics were called to the scene, and he was rushed to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County. Despite the efforts of medical staff, Tre Lorenzo Henry was pronounced dead at 10:30 a.m. His death was recorded as the 443rd homicide in Chicago that year.

The year 2012 was a particularly violent one for the city of Chicago, which recorded more than 500 homicides, a significant increase from the year prior. The surge in gun violence disproportionately affected neighborhoods on the city's South and West Sides, often impacting young people like Tre. These communities faced ongoing struggles with poverty and gang-related conflicts, creating an environment where the potential for violence was a daily reality for many residents. Tre’s death was a stark data point in a grim year for the city, but for his family, it was an immeasurable and personal tragedy.

Immediately following the shooting, Chicago Police Department’s Area Central detectives launched a homicide investigation. Evidence technicians were dispatched to the alley on South Prairie Avenue to collect forensic evidence and process the scene. Detectives began the work of canvassing the area for witnesses and seeking any information that could lead to the person or persons responsible for Tre’s murder. Despite their efforts, public information about the investigation quickly grew scarce.

In the years since Tre Henry was killed, his case has grown cold. There have been no public announcements from the Chicago Police Department regarding any persons of interest, suspects, or arrests in connection with his murder. The investigation officially remains open, but without new leads or witnesses coming forward, progress has stalled. His name is listed on online memorials dedicated to victims of gun violence, such as Gun Memorial and Never Forget Chicago, where friends and strangers alike have left messages of remembrance and lit hundreds of digital candles in his honor.

The case of Tre Lorenzo Henry’s murder is a painful, unresolved chapter for his family and for the city of Chicago. He was a young man with unfulfilled potential whose life was cut short in a moment of violence that remains unaccounted for. As of late 2026, his homicide is still unsolved, one of many such cases that leave families searching for answers and justice.